A High‐Entropy Single‐Atom Catalyst Toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Acidic and Alkaline Conditions

Abstract

Abstract The design of high‐entropy single‐atom catalysts (HESAC) with 5.2 times higher entropy compared to single‐atom catalysts (SAC) is proposed, by using four different metals (FeCoNiRu‐HESAC) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Fe active sites with intermetallic distances of 6.1 Å exhibit a low ORR overpotential of 0.44 V, which originates from weakening the adsorption of OH intermediates. Based on density functional theory (DFT) findings, the FeCoNiRu‐HESAC with a nitrogen‐doped sample were synthesized. The atomic structures are confirmed with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray absorption (XAS), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The predicted high catalytic activity is experimentally verified, finding that FeCoNiRu‐HESAC has overpotentials of 0.41 and 0.37 V with Tafel slopes of 101 and 210 mVdec−1 at the current density of 1 mA cm−2 and the kinetic current densities of 8.2 and 5.3 mA cm−2, respectively, in acidic and alkaline electrolytes. These results are comparable with Pt/C. The FeCoNiRu‐HESAC is used for Zinc–air battery applications with an open circuit potential of 1.39 V and power density of 0.16 W cm−2. Therefore, a strategy guided by DFT is provided for the rational design of HESAC which can be replaced with high‐cost Pt catalysts toward ORR and beyond.

Keywords

• DFT
• electrocatalyst
• overpotential
• volcano plot
• Zinc–air battery